Seat structure



1957 H. D. GEYER Em. 2,779,395

SEAT STRUCTURE Filed 001;. 24, 1952 I I I I l 'zl lllli EII'HH 1 I l l J8 INVENTOR.

HA evE Y 0 Gene-e STA/VL E'Y E.- (mesa/v United States Patent SEAT STRUCTURE Harvey D. Geyer and Stanley R. Carson, Ilayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 24,1952, Serial No. 316,698

6 Claims. (Cl.155-179) This invention relates to seat structures and more particularly to a structure formed of sheet material having reinforcing wires integrally embedded therein.

One of the objects of the present invention is to form a laminated seat structure of sheet material utilizing longitudinally split reinforced elastomeric tubing.

A more specific object of the present invention is to utilize a sheet of elastomeric material having substantially parallel reinforcing wires embedded therein in the formation of a seat structure. This is accomplished by longitudinally splitting spirally wrapped wire reinforced tubing to form a sheet, laminating a plurality of these sheets so that the reinforcing wires of contiguous sheets are at substantially right angles, bending extending edges of the sheets to form sides of the seat, and binding the edges together to form a box-like structure.

A further object of the presentinvention is to utilize elastomeric sheets in the formation of a seat structure wherein reinforcing wires in the sheets are parallel to each other and oblique to the edges of the sheet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l, in perspective, shows a seat structure formed according to the present invention;

Figure 2, in perspective, shows diagrammatically a partially longitudinally split elastomeric hose having reinforcing wires therein;

Figure 3, in a plan view, shows a crossing of sheets having oblique wires to form a lamination as utilized in the construction of a seat according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a portion of a perspective view of the seat wherein the bent edges form sides of the seat; and

Figure 5, in a plan view, shows a modification of Figure 3 wherein wires are parallel to the edges of the sheets.

In the drawings, Fig. 2 shows an elastomeric flexible tube or hose 2t) longitudinally split to form a sheet. Hose of this character may be formed according to any suitable known methods such as disclosed by United States Patent No. 2,489,503 to Frederick W. Sampson et al. or in an application, S. N. 213,704 for United States Patent by Charles H. Beare et al., now Patent No. 2,707,017. This type of hose has a spirally wound reinforcing spring wire 22 embedded in the helically wrapped elastomeric body portion, and when this hose is transversely cut and longitudinally split will form a sheet 26 wherein the reinforcing wires 28 are oblique to the edges 30 and 32 of the sheet 26.

In a modification, the tube may be spirally split so that the split is at right angles to the reinforcing wires. A tube thus split will form a sheet wherein the wires are parallel and perpendicular to the edges of the sheet as shown in Fig. 5.

2,779,395 Patented Jam-29, 19 57 A plurality of these sheets are then laminated in a crossed relation to each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, with the central portions in intimate and contiguous relation with each other. The contiguous portions are then bonded by some suitable method as vulcanizing, gluing,

cementing, riveting, etc., to form a. laminated structure 44, as seen in Fig. 1.

The edge portions 36 and 38 extending beyond the overlaying portions, and which may be of unequal length, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are bent substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion 40 to form a structure having a slanting top surface. Each sheet is so formed and when the intermediate portions are held in position, a box-like structure, as seen in Fig. 1, will result. The edges of the turned end portions of the sheets are peripherally bound and retained in place with a binding 42 which may be of metal or other suitable material. This binding, which may be U-shaped, is secured to the edges of the sheets in some suitable manner as crimping, bonding, riveting, etc. The joining of the terminal ends of the binding will provide a relatively rigid retaining means for the vertically bent portions of the sheets.

With the sheets orientated as set forth, the reinforcing wires 28 of each sheet will be at substantially right angles to the Wires of the contiguous sheet. This arrangement will provide a support having vertical resiliency without appreciable lateral movement.

The structure as shown in perspective in Fig. l of the drawings may be used as a seat in the form shown, or serve as a foundation structure foran automotive type seat, wherein a covering of sponge-type rubber or other suitable material is covered with a fabric or other material. If a covering (not shown), is provided for the structure, an additional reinforcement will result for the covering will inhibit spreading at the corners of the edges 48 and 50.

From the foregoing it can be seen that we have provided a seat structure that is economical to manufacture and inherently durable, wherein the reinforcing wires may be of band-like, square or other suitably shaped material and the binding may be an external or internal frame of materials such as plastic, wood, or cloth so as to come within the scope of the invention. The resiliency of the structure depends mainly upon the spring wire used in making the tubing. This wire may be varied in gauge to provide any desired resistance towards flexing. The elastomeric covering also lends resiliency to the structure to a lesser degree and this may also be controlled by the compound used, the thickness of the material and the curing procedure, as is well known in the art. The elastomeric covering may be reenforced with fabric if used in tape form, or fabric backing may be bonded in situ to the sheet during assembly of the structure.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A laminated seat support structure comprising a plurality of flexible elastomeric sheets with each sheet having a substantially smooth surface and a surface with embedded reinforcing wires projecting therefrom, said sheets being laminated to have the wires of adjoining sheets substantially at right angles to each other and laminated to have at least an intermediate smooth surface portion of one sheet in intimate contact with an intermediate smooth surface portion of another sheet, and having end portions thereof bent to lie in more than one plane and providing a flexible support for said laminated portions, and a binding carried by the peripheral edges of said seat structure.

2. A laminated seat support structure comprising a plurality of flexible elastomeric sheets wherein each sheet has a substantially smooth surface and a surface with embedded reinforcing Wires projecting therefrom, said sheets having the Wires of each sheet substantially parallel to each other and oblique to the edges of the sheet, said sheets being laminated with each other to have intermediate smooth surface portions in intimate contact with intermediate smooth surface portions of the adjoining sheet and having end portions substantially at right angles to and providing a flexible support for the intermediate portions, and a binding carried by the peripheral edges of the sheets.

3. A box-like seat support structure comprising a plurality of flexible elastomeric sheets, each sheet having a substantially smooth surface and a surface with embedded parallel Wires projecting therefrom; each sheet having wires obliquely disposed relative to the edge portions thereof and having an intermediate smooth surface portion in intimate contact with the adjoining intermediate smooth surface portion of an adjacent sheet, said sheets being laminated so the Wires of adjoining sheets are substantially at right angles, and said sheets being formed to have the end portions substantially forming right angles with the laminated intermediate portions and providing a flexible support therefor, and a binding carried by edges of end portions forming the peripheral edge of the seat structure.

4. In a method of forming a seat structure the steps comprising, longitudinally splitting a flexible tube having a spiral reinforcing wire embedded therein to form a sheet having substantially parallel embedded wires therein, laminating a plurality of the sheets by placing intermediate portions of the sheets in intimate contact with each other so the Wires are substantially at right angles, turning extending end portions of the sheets to form a box-like structure and joining the extending edge portions with a peripheral binding.

5. In a method of forming a seat structure the steps comprising, forming a sheet by longitudinally cutting a helically wrapped hose having a spiral reinforcing spring wire embedded therein, bending the sheets to have the end portions substantially at right angles to the intermediate positions, placing the intermediate portions of the sheets in intimate contact so the reinforcing wire of adjoining sheets is substantially at right angles and bending the edges of the sheets so as to maintain the edges of each sheet in a spaced relation to the other edges of the sheets. p

6. In a method of forming aseat structure, the steps comprising, forming a reinforced elastomeric sheet by longitudinally cutting a helically wrapped elastomeric hose having a spirally disposed spring wire embedded therein, placing the intermediate portions of the sheets in intimate contact so the wires of contacting sheets are substantially at right angles, bending the end portions of the sheets to have end portions substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion, and binding the edges of the end portions to form a box-like structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,782 Blakeney Sept. 12, 1871 893,065 Fisher July 14, 1908 1,474,699 Wisbrock Nov. 20, 1923 2,068,812 Miller Jan. 26, 1937 2,489,503 Sampson et al. Nov. 29, 1949 2,576,729 Shockey Nov. 27, 1951 2,621,340 Mogridge Dec. 16, 1952 2,638,154 Dewees May 12, 1953 

